Air and vacuum valve.



N8. 703,886. Patented July I, 1902.

E. P. ALLEN.

AIR AND VACUUM VALVE.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1901:)

(No Model.) I

111765598. IKl/GLI IE. JMW, EvePefiPAHen 5 BM W manner.

NiTno STATES PATENT Fries;

EVERETT P. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO R. M. WILBI IR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AlR AND, VACUUM VALVE.

dPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 703,886, dated July 1, 1902. Application filed March 25, 1901. Serial No. 52,703. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, EVERETT P. ALLEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Chi-, cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi-i nois, have invented a certain new and'useful Improvement in Automatic Air and Vacuum Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The valve of this invention is primarily designed and intended for use in connection with steam-radiators,but can be used for other purposes and in other places.

The primary object of the invention is to construct a valve well adapted for the purpose of venting air from a steam-radiator and preserving the vacuum produced by the condensation of the steam for preventing back pressure of the steam at the engines or pumps and for creating a positive, uniform, and reliable circulation of steam without appreciable pressure above that of atmospheric pressure, thereby obtaining the heat of steam at a low temperature and create a great saving therefrom; and further objects of the invention are to improve the construction and operation of valves of the class to which the invention relates and-to insure a positive and reliable operation in controlling the escape of the air, preservinga vacuum,and in automatically operating the valve to prevent the escape of water of condensation through the valve after a vacuum has been created."

The invention consists in the features and construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure l is a sectional elevation showing the parts constituting the valve as a whole in normal position for venting the air; Fig. 2, an elevation with the outer cylinder or shell partly broken away, showing the working parts of the valve in position to close the port for venting the air and showing also the port closed against the admission of the water of condensation; and'Fig. 3, a modification, partly in sectional elevation, showing a construction of walve adapted only for venting the air.

The valve, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is constructed with a cup or supporter A, having a hollow stem (0, adapted to be connected with a pipe or tube of a radiator in the usual The base or cup A in the construction shown has screw-threaded thereinto one end of a cylinder or shell B, and in the base or support at the end of the cylinder or shell is a plate I), provided with holes or perforations 1), furnishing a communication between the interior of the cup and the interior of the cylinder or shell. The cylinder or shell of the valve is completed by an upper portion C, and the two sections or divisions of the cylinder or shell are connected to a cross plate or partition D, for which purpose the plate or partition has on each side a peripheral rim or flange, one of which, (1, is screw-threaded onto the end of the cylinder or shell 13 and the other one of which, d, has screw-threaded thereinto the upper section C of the cylinder or shell, and the upper section of the cylin- -der or shell in the arrangement shown has in its top a vent hole or perforation c for venting the air. cave end 6, terminatingin an extreme end 6, which is open, is entered into a suitable opening for the end 6, formed centrally in the plate or partition I), so that when the parts are normal and air is escaping the float rests on and is supported by the plate or partition, closing the opening in the'plate or partition intowhich the tapered end of the float enters, permitting the air to pass from the cup into the cylinder or shell only through the passages or perforations in the plate or partition I) on which the float rests. The plate or partition D has centrally entered thereinto and supported thereby a plug F, one end of which has a chamber or openingf and the other end of which has a chamber or opening f, each chamber or opening having at its inner end a cone-shaped seating-face f with a port or passage f between the two chambers, which port or passage is controlled at both ends by a suitable valve seating against the conical faces of the chambers or openings. The port on the end adjacent to the chamberfis controlled by a valve h, carried by the float E and having a taperedor cone-shaped end to seat against the face f of the wall of the chamber, and the port f on the end adjacent to the chamberf is controlled by'a valve 2', having a tapered or cone-shaped end 2', which seats against the face of the wall of the chamber or opening. The upper portion of the chamber of the section or division C of the A float E, having a tapered con-v cylinder or shell has located therein a split ring of metal G, which, as shown, is suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell by a screw-threaded stem g, entered into a screwthreaded hole in the wall at' the top of the cylinder or shell, and the stem g has a neck or cross-cut in its end for the insertion of a screw-driver or other suitable instrument, by means of which the split ring can be adjusted so as to properly coact with the valve 2', for which purpose the outer end of the valve has thereon a diskj, against which the ring can be brought into engagement for the purpose of closing the valve. The split ring G is made of anysuitable metal or material which will expand under heat for the expansion to spread the ring and cause the portion thereof adjacent to the'diskj to engage such disk and force the valve t' down to its seat in the chamber or openingf and close the port f which operation occurs when the air has been forced out from the coil, and steam follows the air and enters the upper chamber of the cylinder or shell to act on the ring and cause the requisite expansion to close the valve, andwith the closing of the valve the air is excluded, and steam can circulate at a low temperature and withoutliability of creating back pressure on the engine or pump. The screw-threaded stem g is guarded against accidental turning or manipulation by unauthorized persons by a closed cap 7c, screwthreadedonto a nipple or neck on a cylinder or shell at the top thereof, into which nipple or neck the stem g is screw-threaded in the construction shown.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is intended to vent air and preserve a vacuum and also to prevent the water of condensation from passing into the upper compartment or chamber of the cell and leaking through the vent hole or perforation c for the air.

The operation of the valve having the construction and arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: The valve as to its working parts when normal and in position for venting air is as shown in Fig. 1, and with the parts V in the position of Fig. 1 the air from the radimg the pressure of the air is suflicient to raise the valve 1', allowing the air to escape freely into the upper compartment or chamber of the cylinder or shell and flow out through the vent hole or opening 0 into the atmosphere or otherwise, and with the valve thus operating to vent air the controlling split ring for'the valve z'is normal and does not engage the disk so as to force the valve 2 to its seat. The air continues to escape, and

the valves 72. and 1' remain open until steam follows the air and enters the lower compartment or chamber of the cylinder through the openings or perforations of the plate or partition b, and from the lower chamber or compartment of the cylinder or. shell the steam flows through the chambers fand f and communicating portf into the upper compartment or chamber of the cylinder or shell, and with such admission of the steam to the upper compartment or chamber the heat of the steam acts on the expansible split ring and causes it, to open for the ring to engage the valve i and close the port f against further passage of steam therethrough, and if there be water in the system which is carried forward it passes through the perforations b and acts against the float and as it rises lifts the float, forcing the valve h to its seat in the chamber or passagef and closing the communicating portf on that end, so that if the water continues to rise it cannot pass abovethe partition or plate (1 and enter the upper compartment or chamber of the cylinder or shell, by which arrangement the flow of water into the upper compartment or chamber and the escape thereof through the vent hole or perforation cis entirely prevented, as the water is retained in the lower compartment or chamber. It will thus be seen that with my invention an automatic air and vacuum valve is provided by means of which the passage of the air is automatically controlled and the escape of water at the valve is wholly prevented, and the parts constituting the valve as a whole operate automatically and in an effectual and reliable manner for controlling the escape of the air and preserving the valve and float for preventing the escape of the water of condensation are applicable for use independently of the float, and a construction for this purpose is shown in Fig. 3, in which a base or cup A, having a hollow stem a, is employed similar in construction and operation to the cup A and its attaching hollow stem. The lower section or division of the cylinder or shell is dispensed with, and the upper section or division of the cylinder or shell alone is employed, and such cylinder or shell 0 is screw-threaded into a circumferential flange or rim on the base or cup for its end to abut against a cross plate orpartition D. The cross plate or partition has secured therein a plug F, havinga chamber f with a seating-face f 5 on the wall of the chamber at the inner end, and the chamberf has com- I to munication with the interior of the base or cup by a port f which port is controlled by a valve 2', having a tapered end t to seat against the end face of the chamber and close the port, and the valve has a disk 3' on its end, which is engaged by the split ring G when expanded, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to close the valve. The valve t' and the split ring G operate in the same manner as the corresponding parts for the construction of Figs. 1 and 2; but with the construction of Fig. 3 no provision is made for shutting off the water of condensation from escaping,as the valve of the construction in Fig. 3 only operates to vent the air and preserve the vacuum created by the condensation of the steam. The operation of the valve in venting air and the closing of such valve by means of the expansible split ring are precisely the same as for the construction described with the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 and need not be repeated.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an automatic air and vacuum valve, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a cylinder or shell mounted on the base and having communication therewith, a cross partition or wall dividing the interior of the cylinder or shellinto an upper and a lower chamber, a fixed vertical plug on the cross parti tion or wall, having an air-eduction port and passage therein furnishing communication between the two chambers of the cylinder or shell for venting air from the lower chamber into the upper chamber, a controlling pin valve entering loosely into the eduction-passage and consisting of an outer disk or head and a body or stem, with the body or stem downwardly projecting into the air-passage for its acting end when seated to close the port and passage and when unseated to open the port and passage and having the valve held normally seated by air-pressure on the outer face of its head or disk and raised to unseat its acting end by pressure in the lower chamber againstits acting end and the under face of the disk or head, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, and a thermostatic expansible ring member adjustably suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell above the free air-valve, normally out of contact with the valve and operating under expansion to engage the valve and seat its acting end to close the air port and passage in the plug and shut off communication between the two chambers and prevent the admission of air to the lower chamber after the air is expelled therefrom, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic air and vacuum valve for radiators, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a cylinder or shell mounted on the base and having communication therewith, a cross partition or wall dividing the interior of the cylinder or shell into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fixed vertical plug on the cross partition or wall, having an aireduction port and passage therein furnishing communication between the two chambers of the cylinder or shell for venting air and steam from the lower chamber into the upper chamber, a controlling pin-valve entering loosely into the eduction-passage and consisting of an outer disk or head and a body or stem, with the body or stem downwardly projecting into the air-passage for its acting end when seated to close the port and passage and when unseated to open the port and passage and having the valve held normally seated by pressure on the outer face of its head or disk within the upper chamber and raised to unseat its acting end by pressure in the lower chamber against its acting end and the under face of the disk or head, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, and a thermostatic expansible split-ring member adjustably suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell above the free air-valve, normally out of contact with the valve permitting the pressure to unseat the valve and vent the air into the upper chamber from the lower chamber and expansible with the admission of steam into the upper chamber to engage the valve and 7 seat its acting end closing the air port and passage between the two chambers and preventing the admission of air to the lower chamber from the upper chamber after the expulsion of air from the lower chamber, substantially as described. I

3. In an automatic air and vacuum valve for radiators, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a perforated plate or partition across the base or cup at the upper end thereof, a cylinder or shell mounted on the base or cup and having communication therewith through the perforated plate or partition, a cross plate or partition dividing the interior of the cylinder or shell into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fixed vertical plug on the'cross plate or partition, having an air-eduction port and passage therein furnishing communication between the two chambers of the cylinder or shell for venting air from the lower chamber into the upper chamber, a controlling pin valve entered loosely into the eductiou-passage and consisting of an outer disk or head and a body or stem, with the body or stem downwardly projecting into the air-passage for its acting end when seated to close the port and passage and when unseated to open the port and passage and having the valve held normally seated by air-pressure in the upper chamber on the outer face of the head or disk and having the valve raised to unseat its acting end by pressure in the lower chamber against its acting end and the under face of the disk or head, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, and a thermostatic eXpansiblesplit-ring member adjustably suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell above the free airvalve, normally out of contact with the valve and expansible with the admission of steam to the upper chamber to engage the valve IIO and seat its acting end to close the air port and passage in the plug and shut off communication between the two chambers preventing the admission of air to the lower chamber from the upper chamber, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic air and vacuum valve for radiators, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a plate or partition across the base or cup at its upper end, a port in the plate or partition, a cylinder or shell mounted on the base or cup and having communication therewith, a cross plate or partition dividing the interior of the cylinder or shell into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fixed vertical plug on the cross plate or partition, having an air-eduction port and passage therein furnishing communication between the two chambers and having the port intermediate of the passage for venting air from the lower chamber into the upper chamher, a controlling pin-valve entered loosely into the upper portion of the eduction-passage and consisting of an outer disk or head and a body or stem, with the body or stem downwardly projecting into the air-passage for its acting end when seated to close the midway port of the passage and having the valve held normally seated by air-pressu re in the upper chamber on the outer face of the head or disk and having the valve raised to unseat its acting end by pressure in the lower chamber against its acting end and the under face of the disk or head, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, a thermostatic expansible ring member adjustably suspended from the top-of the cylinder or shell above the free air-valve, normally out of contact with the valve and operating un der expansion to engage the valve when raised and seat its acting end to close the air port and passage on the upper side of the port and shut off communication between the two chambers preventing the admission of air to the lower chamber after air is expelled therefrom, a float in the lower chamber, a pin-valve fixed to the upper end of the float and entering the lower portion of the passage in the plug for its acting end to close the midway port of the passage from below with the raising of the float from the rise of the water of condensation in the cup and lower chamber, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic air and vacuum valve for radiators, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a perforated plate or partition across the base or cup at its upper end, a port in the plate or partition, a cylinder or shell mount ed on the base or cup and having communication therewith, a cross plate or partition dividing the interior of the cylinder or shell into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fixed vertical plug on the cross plate or partition having an air-eductionport and passage in the plug furnishing communication between the two chambers and having the port intermediate of the passage for venting air from the lower chamber into the upper chamber, a controlling pin-valve entered loosely into the upper portion of the eduction-passage and consisting of an outer disk or head and a body or stem, with the body or stem downwardly projected into the air-passage for its acting end when seated to close the midway port of the passage on the upper side and having the valve held normally seated by airpressure in the upper chamber on the outer face of the head or disk and having the valve raised to unseat its acting end by pressure in the lower chamber operating against its acting end and the under face of the head or disk, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, a thermostatic expansible ring member adjustably suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell above the free ai rvalve, normally out of contact with the valve and operating under expansion to engage the valve when raised and seat its acting end to close the air port and passage on the upper side of the port and shut off communication between the two chambers preventing the admission of air to the lower chamber after the air is expelled therefrom, a float in the lower chamber, a pin-valve fixed to the upper end of the float and entering the lower portion of the passage in the plug for its acting end to close the midway port of the passage from below with the raising of the float from the rise ofthe water of condensationin the base and lower chamber, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic air and vacuum valve for radiators, the combination of a hollow base or cup, a perforated plate or partition across the base or cup at its upper end, a port in the plate or partition, a steam-passage and a water-passage both leading into the base or cup, a cylinder or shell mounted on the base or cup and having communication therewith through the perforated plate or partition and divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber having an air and steam passage between them, a port in the passage having a seat on both its upper and lower sides, a loose pin-valve having its body or stem entered into the npper portion of the passage for its act ing end to seat and close the port on the upper side, a vent or outlet from the upper chamber, a thermostatic member adj ustably suspended from the top of the cylinder or shell above'the free air-valve, normally out of contact with the valve and expansible with the admission of steam to the upper chamber to engage the valve and seat its acting end, a float in the lower chamber, a pin-valve carried by the float on its upper end to have its acting end seat against the under face of the port in the air and steam passage, and a valve carried by the float on its lower end to open and close the port in the partition of the base or cup, substantially as described.

EVERETT P. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, SAMUEL W. BANNING. 

